Steele County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,406. Its county seat is Owatonna.

Steele County comprises the Owatonna Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History The county was created by the Minnesota Territory legislature on February 20, 1855, using areas partitioned from Rice, Blue Earth, and Le Sueur counties. Owatonna, the settlement of which had commenced in 1854, was named the county seat. The county was named for Franklin Steele, a prominent early resident of the territory.

Geography

The Straight River rises in Freeborn County and flows northward through the central part of Steele County, continuing into Rice County on the north. The South Branch of the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River rises in Steele County and flows eastward into Dodge County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, etched with drainages, completely devoted to agriculture where possible.Steele County MN Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019) The terrain slopes to the east and north, with its highest point near the midpoint of its south border, at ASL."Find an Altitude/Steele County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019) The county has an area of , of which are land and (0.6%) are water.

The Straight River flows northward through the county, and the Le Sueur River flows through its southwestern corner. The Middle Fork of the Zumbro River rises in NE Steele County.

Transit Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit

Major highways Interstate 35 – runs north–south through west-central portion of county. Passes Medford, Clinton Falls, Owatonna, Hope and Ellendale. U.S. Route 14 – runs east–west through upper central portion of county; passes Owatonna. U.S. Route 218 – runs north-northwest from southeast corner of county to intersection with US 14, southeast of Owatonna. Minnesota State Highway 30 – runs east–west across south part of county; passes Ellendale.

Airports Owatonna Degner Regional Airport (OWA) - northwest of Owatonna

Adjacent counties

Rice – north Dodge – east Mower – southeast Freeborn – south Waseca – west

Protected areas Source:

Aurora State Wildlife Management Area Oak Glen State Wildlife Management Area Rice Lake State Park Somerset State Wildlife Management Area Swan Lake State Wildlife Management Area

Lakes Source:

Beaver Fosilen Kohlmeier Lonergan Oak Glen Rice (part) Rickert Swan

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Steele County, Minnesota – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)29,91629,93431,41432,54431,37698.64%97.41%93.27%88.98%83.88%Black or African American alone (NH)13513571,0031,3590.04%0.17%1.06%2.74%3.63%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)26453066650.09%0.15%0.09%0.18%0.17%Asian alone (NH)1171492842783300.39%0.48%0.84%0.76%0.88%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census0818xx0.00%0.02%0.05%Other race alone (NH)362318580.01%0.02%0.07%0.05%0.16%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census3063771,060xx0.91%1.03%2.83%Hispanic or Latino (any race)2535441,2662,2823,1400.83%1.77%3.76%6.24%8.39%Total30,32830,72933,68036,57637,406 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 37,406. The median age was 39.9 years. 25.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 86.0% White, 3.7% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.8% from some other race, and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 8.4% of the population.

70.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 29.7% lived in rural areas.

There were 14,823 households in the county, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.2% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 15,691 housing units, of which 5.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.1% were owner-occupied and 23.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 33,680 people, 12,846 households, and 9,082 families in the county. The population density was . There were 13,306 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 95.19% White, 1.07% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.65% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 3.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.6% were of German, 18.5% Norwegian, 5.2% Czech and 5.1% Irish ancestry.

There were 12,846 households, out of which 35.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.08.

The county population contained 27.90% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,106, and the median income for a family was $53,981. Males had a median income of $36,366 versus $25,054 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,328. About 4.20% of families and 6.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.10% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over. Communities Cities

Blooming Prairie (partly in Dodge County) Ellendale Medford Owatonna (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

Bixby Clinton Falls Deerfield Havana Hope Lemond Litomysl Meriden Merton Moland Pratt Saco Steele Center

Ghost town Rice Lake

Townships

Aurora Berlin Blooming Prairie Clinton Falls Deerfield Havana Lemond Medford Meriden Merton Owatonna Somerset Summit

Politics Steele County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (). +State Legislature (2021-2023)PositionNameAffiliationDistrictSenateJohn JasinskiRepublicanDistrict 24SenateGene DorninkRepublicanDistrict 27House of RepresentativesJohn PetersburgRepublicanDistrict 24AHouse of RepresentativesBrian DanielsRepublicanDistrict 24A +U.S Congress (2021-2023)PositionNameAffiliationDistrict House of RepresentativesBrad FinstadRepublican1st SenateAmy KlobucharDemocrat SenateTina SmithDemocrat

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Steele County, Minnesota

References

External links Steele County government's website Steele County Historical Society City of Owatonna City of Medford City of Blooming Prairie City of Ellendale Rice Lake State Park